Quality of life of Turkish type 2 diabetics in Germany and Turkey--a comparison between Hamburg and Istanbul

TY - JOUR

T1 - Quality of life of Turkish type 2 diabetics in Germany and Turkey--a comparison between Hamburg and Istanbul

AU - Kofahl, Christopher

AU - Doğan, Mustafa

AU - Doğan, Gülsün

AU - Mnich, Eva

AU - von dem Knesebeck, Olaf

PY - 2014/1/1

Y1 - 2014/1/1

N2 - OBJECTIVES: The analyses address the following research questions: (1) Do Turkish diabetics in Germany and Turkey differ in terms of quality of life? (2) If yes, can these differences (in part) be explained by social factors (age, gender, education, household size), functional limitations and availability of support? (3) Are social factors, functional limitations and availability of support differently associated with quality of life among Turkish diabetics in Germany and Turkey?DESIGN: For this comparative cross-sectional study, 111 patients with type 2 diabetes were personally interviewed in Istanbul (Turkey) and 294 Turkish patients in Hamburg (Germany). For quality of life measurement we have used the Turkish version of the WHOQOL-Bref-26. Sociodemographics included age, sex, education and household-size. Health related functional limitations were assessed on the basis of an index of (instrumental) activities of daily living including the availability of help. Statistical analyses were conducted on group comparisons with Chi-square- and T-tests as well as linear regressions.RESULTS: There are no significant differences between Turkish diabetics in Germany and Turkey in the physical and the psychological dimensions of the WHOQOL-Bref. However, in the WHOQOL-domains 'social QoL' and 'environmental QoL' Turkish diabetics living in Hamburg have a significantly better quality of life than their counterparts in Istanbul. These differences cannot be explained by individual sociodemographic factors, functional limitations and availability of support. Furthermore, we found much stronger positive associations between education and quality of life in Istanbul than in Hamburg.CONCLUSION: Beyond strong similarities between the two samples in sociodemographics, physical and mental health the social and environmental quality of life was significantly assessed better by the Turkish diabetics living in Hamburg. This is most likely an effect of public investment in social security, infrastructure and health care which is also influencing the decision as to where to spend life in retirement.

AB - OBJECTIVES: The analyses address the following research questions: (1) Do Turkish diabetics in Germany and Turkey differ in terms of quality of life? (2) If yes, can these differences (in part) be explained by social factors (age, gender, education, household size), functional limitations and availability of support? (3) Are social factors, functional limitations and availability of support differently associated with quality of life among Turkish diabetics in Germany and Turkey?DESIGN: For this comparative cross-sectional study, 111 patients with type 2 diabetes were personally interviewed in Istanbul (Turkey) and 294 Turkish patients in Hamburg (Germany). For quality of life measurement we have used the Turkish version of the WHOQOL-Bref-26. Sociodemographics included age, sex, education and household-size. Health related functional limitations were assessed on the basis of an index of (instrumental) activities of daily living including the availability of help. Statistical analyses were conducted on group comparisons with Chi-square- and T-tests as well as linear regressions.RESULTS: There are no significant differences between Turkish diabetics in Germany and Turkey in the physical and the psychological dimensions of the WHOQOL-Bref. However, in the WHOQOL-domains 'social QoL' and 'environmental QoL' Turkish diabetics living in Hamburg have a significantly better quality of life than their counterparts in Istanbul. These differences cannot be explained by individual sociodemographic factors, functional limitations and availability of support. Furthermore, we found much stronger positive associations between education and quality of life in Istanbul than in Hamburg.CONCLUSION: Beyond strong similarities between the two samples in sociodemographics, physical and mental health the social and environmental quality of life was significantly assessed better by the Turkish diabetics living in Hamburg. This is most likely an effect of public investment in social security, infrastructure and health care which is also influencing the decision as to where to spend life in retirement.

KW - Activities of Daily Living

KW - Aged

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

KW - Female

KW - Germany

KW - Humans

KW - Interviews as Topic

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Quality of Life

KW - Questionnaires

KW - Regression Analysis

KW - Residence Characteristics

KW - Social Support

KW - Socioeconomic Factors

KW - Transients and Migrants

KW - Turkey

U2 - 10.1080/13557858.2014.885932

DO - 10.1080/13557858.2014.885932

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 24517236

VL - 19

SP - 617

EP - 630

JO - ETHNIC HEALTH

JF - ETHNIC HEALTH

SN - 1355-7858

IS - 6

ER -